88 



THE TROUT 



The following is from Walton, who by many writers was 

 considered the best minnow Angler in England : " And of 

 these minnows, first you are to know, that the biggest size is 

 not the best, and next, that the middle size and the whitest 

 are the best ; and then you are to know, that your minnow 

 must be put on your hook, that it must turn round when it is 

 drawn against the stream ; and that it may turn nimbly, you 

 must put on a big sized hook, as I shall now direct you, 

 which is this : put your hook in at his mouth and out at his 

 gill; then having drawn your hook two or three inches be- 

 yond or through his gill, put it again through .his mouth, and 

 the point or beard out at his tail ; and then tie the hook and 

 his tail about very neatly, with a white thread, which will 

 make it apter to turn quick in the water ; that done, pull 

 back that part of your line which was slack when you did put 

 your hook into the minnow the second time ; I say, pull that 

 part of your line back so that it shall fasten the head, so that 

 the body of the minnow shall be almost straight* on your 

 hook ; this done, try how it will turn by drawing it across 

 the water, against a stream; and if it do not turn nimbly, 

 then turn the tail a little to the right or left hand, and try 

 again till it turn quick ; for if not, you are in danger to catch 

 nothing; for know, that it is impossible for a minnow to turn 

 too quick." 



The Minnow is beautifully and faithfully imitated in 

 England, and imported into this country, and will be found a 

 valuable addition to the Angler's stock of artificial baits.t 



Although in this and the following methods, the float is 

 not mentioned as an article of tackle, it is much ~3ed by 



* Rennie, in his notes on Walton, says : " I have never been able to 

 cause a minnow to swim well in trolling, unless the tail was bent nearly 

 to a semicircle.'' 



t Smearing the artificial baits with fish-slime is recommended by 

 Rennie. 



